Former pupil uses school trauma as fuel to change lives of others

Former Brechin High School pupil Leo Lafferty-whyte has written his second book since becoming a life coach.

Dr Leo Lafferty-whyte, 34, a PHD scientist in genetic immunology, grew up in Brechin in the 1980s and ’90s and suffered mental and physical abuse because he was gay.

He used his past traumas to fuel his hunger for selfimprovement and launched Triple “H” Coaching in 2016 to make sure life coaching was available to everyone without the often high barrier of fees.

Dr Lafferty-whyte has now written his second book, Life Satisfaction: A Scientist’s Guide.

It is described as a how-to guide of techniques he uses with his coaching clients.

He said: “When word got out that I was gay, the target was on my back.

“I was the only gay in the village, a new target to play with. As soon as I opened my eyes, I would be a nervous wreck inside.”

At that time in Scotland homosexuality had not long been legalised but the age of consent was still higher than for heterosexual couples.

As Mental Health Awareness Week comes to a close, he said he wants to keep the topic on the agenda and remove the stigma of illnesses such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.

He threw himself into his studies and went to university where he met his husband.

He said: “I’m learning to deal with what has happened to me over the years.

“Feeling like something positive was coming out of this darkness in the form of these books has been the biggest factor in my recovery.”